Jacksonville State Basketball Team
Jacksonville State University is located in Jacksonville, Alabama and is home to the Gamecocks men’s basketball team. The team is coached by Ray Harper, who was hired in 2019 to take over the program. The Gamecocks compete in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) of NCAA Division I. The team has made two NCAA tournament appearances, one in 1986 and one in 2020.
Coach Ray Harper
Ray Harper is the current head coach of the Jacksonville State basketball team. He took over the program in 2019 after a successful career as the head coach at Western Kentucky, Grand Canyon, and Oklahoma City University.
Harper was born in Marshall, Texas and attended Marshall High School where he was an all-state basketball player. He went on to play college basketball at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce). After college, he played professionally in Europe and then returned to the United States to start his coaching career.
Harper began his coaching career at the high school level and then moved on to college basketball. He was the head coach at Western Kentucky from 2003 to 2007 and then held the same position at Grand Canyon University from 2008 to 2012. In 2013, he was hired as the head coach at Oklahoma City University, where he led the team to the NAIA Division I national title in 2014.
Harper’s Coaching Style
Harper is known for his up-tempo, fast-paced style of play which emphasizes the use of the 3-pointer. He also stresses the importance of defense and rebounding. He believes in pushing the ball up the court and playing aggressive, attacking offense.
Harper also focuses heavily on player development, both on and off the court. He encourages his players to work hard and never give up, no matter the circumstances. He also emphasizes the importance of teamwork and developing a sense of family within the team.
Team Accomplishments Under Harper
In his first season with the Gamecocks, Harper led the team to a 20-10 record, including a 12-6 mark in OVC play and a third-place finish in the conference standings. The team also made their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1986, losing in the first round to Maryland.
In the 2020-21 season, the Gamecocks went 18-7 overall and 12-4 in OVC play, earning the second seed in the OVC tournament. Despite losing in the OVC championship game, the team still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Once again, the team lost in the first round, this time to Tennessee.
Awards and Recognition
Harper has been recognized for his success at Jacksonville State. He was named the OVC Coach of the Year in 2020 and was also a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, which is given to the top mid-major coach in the country.
Player Development
Under Harper, the Gamecocks have seen several of their players go on to successful careers at the professional and collegiate level.
Darian Adams was the first Jacksonville State player to be selected in the NBA Draft, going in the second round of the 2021 draft to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jacara Cross was the first Gamecock to win an OVC Player of the Year award. Cross, who was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2021, averaged 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during his senior season.
The Gamecocks have also had several players transfer to bigger programs, including Kentrevious Jones (Texas A&M), D.J. Felder (Auburn), and Jamari Blackmon (Arkansas).
Future Outlook
Harper and the Gamecocks have high expectations for the 2021-22 season. The team returns three starters from last season, including leading scorer Jacara Cross and OVC Defensive Player of the Year Jamari Blackmon. The team also adds a talented recruiting class, which includes four-star guard Tyrese Robinson and three-star guard Michael Gholston.
The Gamecocks are expected to be a top contender in the OVC and could make their third NCAA tournament appearance in four years. With Harper at the helm, the future looks bright for Jacksonville State basketball.
Conclusion
Ray Harper has done an excellent job in his two years as the head coach of the Jacksonville State basketball team. He has brought a winning mentality to the program and has developed several players for future success. The team is expected to be a contender in the OVC and could make a third NCAA tournament appearance in four years. With Harper leading the way, the future looks bright for Jacksonville State basketball.